IMMUNISATION

Pandemic H1N1 Vaccine Uptake Figures for England by SHA and PCT (18th March 2010)
The Department of Health have published preliminary data on vaccinations given up to 28 February 2010 at the SHA and PCT/Trust levels.

For each SHA and PCT, the % uptake of one dose of the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix by people in clinical risk groups (including pregnant women) and children aged six months to under five years (Tables 1 & 2). % uptake is the (number vaccinated / number eligible to receive vaccine and registered) x 100%.

For each SHA and Trust (Tables 3 and 4):

• the number of Front Line Healthcare Workers (HCWs)
• the number of HCWs that have received one dose of the swine flu vaccine, Pandemrix
• the % uptake – (number HCWs vaccinated / number HCWs) x 100%

Information

Guidance for the 2010/11 Human papillomavirus vaccination programme (17th March 2010)
Information on the HPV vaccination programme for 2010/11.
Information

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza vaccination programme (18th February 2010)
Letter from Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience and Professor David Salisbury CB, Director of Immunisation to NHS Chief Executives with an update on the influenza vaccination programme
Information

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) influenza vaccination programme (18th February 2010)
Letter from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer containing an update on the influenza vaccination programme.
Information

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic H1N1 (2009) Influenza (27th January 2010)
This letter, from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, provides an update on the next developments in the response to the swine flu pandemic.
Letter

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (28th January 2010)
With levels of influenza caused by the H1N1 (2009) pandemic virus in the community currently low, this letter, from the Chief Medical Officer, provides an update on the next developments in the response to the pandemic
Letter

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (27th January 2010)
Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, has today written out to Chief Executives of Primary Care Trusts in England to update them on the next steps in the response to the (H1N1) Swine Influenza pandemic
Documents

A (H1N1) Swine Influenza: Current situation and next steps (27th January 2010)
This letter, from the Director General Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, details the next steps in the response to the (H1N1) Swine Influenza pandemic.
Letter

Pandemic flu training module for Mental Health Trusts, Tertiary and Associated Specialist Trusts (22nd January 2010)
This guidance is based on the recently updated guidance for Mental Health services on planning and responding to an outbreak of pandemic flu.
Guidance

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Pandemic (H1N1) influenza: a summary of guidance for infection control in healthcare settings (8th January 2010)
This document is an updated version of Pandemic flu: A summary of guidance for infection control in health care settings issued in September 2007. It is specific to the current pandemic influenza virus, pandemic (H1N1), and thus represents current guidance.
Guidance

Pandemic influenza: summary infection control guidance for ambulance services during an influenza pandemic (8th January 2010)
The purpose of this document is to set out concise summary guidance for infection control for the ambulance services and it is intended for use during the pandemic. The guidance in this document is equally applicable to lay responders, who should adopt the same infection control and hygiene measures.
Guidance

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

A(H1N1) Swine Influenza: SocCon - end to national collection (18th December 2009)
Letter from Roy Taylor regarding the national collection of SocCon data.
Letter

A(H1N1) swine flu influenza: phase two of the vaccination programme; children over 6 months and under 5 years: dosage schedule update (December 2009)
On 8 December, Health Secretary Andy Burnham announced that the swine flu vaccination programme would be extended to children between the ages of six months and five years. This age group was identified as the next priority group for the vaccine because they are more likely to be hospitalised if they fall ill with swine flu. The licence has been amended to allow a one dose schedule in children.
Letter

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Swine flu vaccination: information for parents of children over six months and under five years old (15th December 2009)
All children over six months and under five years of age are now being offered the swine flu vaccine. This leaflet has been developed to provide parents and carers with information about the vaccination.
Leaflet

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Advice from the H1N1 Critical Care Clinical Group (2nd December 2009)
Letter introducing documents prepared by the Clinical Group to support the NHS in ensuring that critical care arrangements are strengthened during both the current H1N1 pandemic and any future, potentially more serious, pandemic strain.
Information

Flowchart for triage: swine flu patients - for GP practice managers and receptions (2nd December 2009)
The Department of Health and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) have produced a flowchart to assist GP receptionists to determine which symptomatic swine flu patients should be seen most urgently - particularly in the case of patients referred by the National Pandemic Flu Service (NPFS)
Guidance

Swine flu: updated guidance for mental health services (26th November 2009)
This is updated guidance for Mental Health services and partners on planning and responding to the Swine Flu H1N1 pandemic.
Guidance

Swine flu and rough sleepers for organisations working with rough sleepers in England (25th November 2009)
This information has been prepared for those who are working with or providing services for rough sleepers during the swine flu pandemic. It provides advice on how to support rough sleepers and signposts to guidance and other useful sources.
Guidance

A(H1N1) swine flu influenza: phase two of the vaccination programme; children over 6 months and under 5 years (8th December 2009)
Ian Dalton, National Director for NHS Flu Resilience, has today written out to Chief Executives of Primary Care Trusts in England to update them on plans for phase two of the swine flu vaccination programme.
Information

WORKFORCE/WORKPLACE

Pandemic influenza: indemnity cover and associated issues in England (3rd December 2009)
This document describes the provisions in place regarding indemnity cover for staff working during times of pandemic in England. The arrangements by which staff are, or may be, indemnified for their actions largely depends on who they are employed by and this document expands upon this principle, detailing some specific points of note.
Guidance

GMC affiliates pilots: final report of the KPMG evaluation (30th November 2009)
In July 2008 the Department commissioned KPMG to undertake an independent evaluation of two pilots introducing a system of GMC Affiliates aimed at closing the regulatory gap between local workplace management of doctors and national professional regulation. The purpose of this evaluation is to produce feedback and provide an assessment of the feasibility, potential benefits, costs and wider impacts of the introduction of GMC Affiliates at a national level.
Report

NHS Workforce Planning. Limitations and possibilities (26th November 2009)
Workforce planning for the NHS is a large undertaking. The NHS in England employs approximately 1.3 million staff, 70 per cent of recurrent NHS costs relate to staffing, and more than £4 billion is spent annually on staff training.

This report considers the degree to which NHS workforce planning in England is likely to support the delivery of a workforce that is fit for the future. To inform this assessment, the authors examine current developments at national and regional level, highlight relevant international experience, and propose ways in which planning could be made more effective.
Report

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Exercise peak practice: national summary (23rd November 2009)
This report of Exercise Peak Practice is a national summary providing an overview of the ten regional exercises, and documents the high-level areas for further action identified by the delegates who attended. Nationally, Exercise Peak Practice reaffirmed the extent and depth of planning that had already taken place in the NHS in readiness for an influenza pandemic and demonstrated considerable leadership, commitment and planning undertaken by both clinical and managerial staff across the NHS.
Report

Swine Influenza: Guidance on vaccination programme payment, data collection and communications (11th November 2009)
This is a letter from National Director for Social Care Flu Resilience Roy Taylor to all directors of adult social services. It contains important information for social care workers on the vaccination programme payment, data collection and a communications toolkit.
Information

Extending the H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme 2009/10 (19th November 2009)
This letter provides information on the extension of the H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme, which will be extended to offer the vaccine to all children over six months of age and under 5 years old.
Information

A (H1N1) Swine influenza: Phase Two of the vaccination programme - letter from Roy Taylor (19th November 2009)
Letter to update on extending the swine flu vaccination programme.
Information

A (H1N1) swine influenza: Phase Two of the vaccination programme - letter from Ian Dalton (19th November 2009)
Update on extending the swine flu vaccination programme beyond the initial priority groups.
Information

Dosage of oseltamivir in children under 6 months of age in the swine flu pandemic (19th November 2009)
This letter provides information about changes to the dose of oseltamivir in children under 6 months of age during an influenza pandemic outbreak and the steps that need to be taken to ensure a safe transition to the new dosage.
Information

Swine flu H1N1: Update on guidance for preparing maternity services toolkit (20th November 2009)
Information and links to other guidance and advice relevant for all services to pregnant women and care for new mothers to enable the continuity of services during this H1N1 pandemic.
Guidance

Authorisation of antiviral medicines - guidance on the use of FP10SS forms and Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers during H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in England (20th November 2009)
The guidance has been updated to inform the NHS about the new Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers for children under 1 year of age issued in November 2009.
Guidance

The swine flu vaccination programme: prisoners in the clinical risk groups - 2009-2010 (20th November 2009)
This letter provides information for prison health care teams, to assist them in delivering the swine flu (influenza A (H1N1v) 2009) vaccine to those prisoners in the clinical priority groups.
Information

Swine flu vaccine deliveries and distribution - frequently asked questions (19th November 2009)
A document that has been developed to answer frequently asked questions (FAQ) relating to the supply of swine flu vaccine and the ordering of further stocks via the ImmForm website
FAQ

Swine flu vaccination: social care communications toolkit (12th November 2009)
It is important that all organisations ensure that their staff have a sound understanding of the rationale behind staff vaccination, so that they can make an informed decision about having it. To help local communications teams inform and encourage frontline staff vaccination, the Department of Health has produced a range of communication products, for both adult and children’s social services, to support staff engagement.
Toolkit

DIRECTIONS

The Primary Medical Services (Directed Enhanced Services - Pandemic Influenza (H1N1 Vaccination Scheme) and Statement of Financial Entitlements (Amendment) (No. 6) Directions 2009 (29th October 2009)
These Directions come into force from 30 October and require PCTs to offer to enter into a Directed Enhanced Service with their existing primary medical care contractors who hold a list of registered patients, by 13 November, to deliver the H1N1 vaccine to patients in the priority groups identified in the CMO letter of 13 August 2009. The attached brief note provides further contextual details. Guidance will be available on the NHS Employers website.
Directions

DOCTORS

Good Medical Practice - pandemic influenza (2nd November 2009)
The General Medical Council (GMC) has updated its guidance for doctors working in a pandemic.

Adjustments include:

• an allowance for doctors to work outside their normal field of practice so long as they are able to do so safely, for example an orthopaedic surgeon may be asked to support A&E admissions or administer vaccines.
• no formal duty to report concerns about resources, equipment or insufficient patient services, other than in exceptional circumstances - because managers will already be aware of the pressures involved working in a pandemic.
• additional guidance on making decisions about which patients receive treatment where resources are scarce. Patient care prioritisation will be based on clinical need and on the patients likely capacity to benefit. For example, young people should not be given automatic priority over adults.
• doctors running research programmes are asked to consider whether to interrupt them during a pandemic.

Guidance

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Swine flu vaccination programme: information to support the vaccination of pregnant women (2nd November 2009)
Letter to GPs and practice nurses introducing a questions and answers document and other information materials.
Letter

Pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza: clinical management guidelines for pregnancy (30th October 2009)
This document updates provisional guidance for the clinical management of pregnant women with symptoms of influenza–like illness, severe influenza and complications, provided in 2007 by the British Infection Society, British Thoracic Society and Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the Department of Health.
Guidance

Pandemic H1N1 2009 influenza: clinical management guidelines for adults and children (30th October 2009)
This document updates provisional guidance for the clinical management of adults and children with symptoms of influenza–like illness, severe influenza and complications, provided in 2007 by the British Infection Society, British Thoracic Society and Health Protection Agency in collaboration with the Department of Health.
Guidance

Clinical professionals brief on swine flu vaccination (28th October 2009)
Information for clinicians about swine flu vaccination from Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director.
Guidance

Health and social care workers and pandemic influenza: information for staff who are pregnant or in other at-risk groups (28th October 2009)
Some individuals are at increased risk of severe or complicated illness if they suffer from influenza. This guidance gives advice on protecting healthcare employees who are pregnant or in one of the other at risk groups identified for (H1N1) 2009 flu (swine flu).
Guidance

Pandemic flu templates (26th October 2009)
Templates to support Primary Care Trusts in planning and responding to capacity challenges in the management of pandemic flu are now available from the NHS Primary Care Commissioning website.

Please note you will need to be registered with a subscribing organisation to access them.
Templates

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Local authority social care pandemic flu self-assessment survey (23rd October 2009)
Letter inviting local authorities to participate in a social care self-assessment survey. The self-assessment template is also available for download.
Letter and Template

Swine flu: guidance for planners (22nd October 2009)
The Department of Health and the Cabinet Office have today published new guidance to support pandemic planners based on the latest science and understanding of the swine flu virus. The latest evidence indicates that the pandemic may peak at a lower rate than we originally thought, but does not suggest that their should be any change to our response in terms of ensuring the NHS and social care organisations are as prepared and resilient as possible for the winter months.
Guidance

H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme 2009-2010: repackaging packs of vaccine for onward distribution (21st October 2009)
Letter and protocol from the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer so support repackaging under pharmaceutical supervision.
Letter and Protocol

A (H1N1) swine influenza: social care worker vaccination programme update (15th October 2009)
Information to help Directors of Adult Social Services in vaccination planning.
Information

How to order swine flu vaccine and collect vaccine uptake data (published 8th October 2009 new to website 16th October 2009)
Letter describing the ordering and data collection processes and also a template of contact details for vaccine uptake data.
Letter and template

The H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme 2009-2010 (15th October 2009)
Letter providing information for clinicians to assist them in delivering the swine flu vaccination programme.
Letter

A (H1N1) swine influenza: vaccination programme update (15th October 2009)
A letter from Ian Dalton, National Director of NHS Flu Resilience, to NHS Chief Executives, providing further information on the swine flu vaccination programme.
Letter

Antiviral prophylaxis: guidance on the use of prophylaxis with antiviral medicines during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic (15th October 2009)
This guidance sets out the circumstances in which it may be appropriate to offer a course of prophylactic antiviral medicine to patients with a serious underlying medical condition or who are pregnant during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic.
Guidance

Stock Management System training manuals (27th October 2009)
The Stock Management System (SMS) provides the DH and the NHS Users with an effective tool to manage the distribution of antivirals to PCTs and collection points in the event of a pandemic. It will provide stock level information, reports and the ability to record issuance from GP prescribed antiviral information, along with the management of full issuance from the collection point via the NPFS system.

These training manuals are to provide guidance to users of the Stock Management System for antivirals.
Manuals

PATIENT AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Swine flu vaccination: what you need to know (22nd October 2009)
Information for the public about the swine flu vaccination.
Booklet

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Swine flu clinical package (6th October 2009)
The swine flu clinical package is a set of tools for use by frontline healthcare professionals, in severe and exceptional circumstances, during a pandemic situation.

This revised version has been updated to reflect changes in the guidance on the use of empirical antibiotics and on oseltamivir prescribing in young children. The package has also been revised and redesigned to clarify the circumstances in which it should be used.
Guidance

Pandemic influenza: additional measures to meet workforce supply (2nd October 2009)
This document has been prepared to complement existing guidance provided by the Department of Health and NHS Employers in relation to pandemic influenza planning. It answers the frequently asked questions and, wherever possible, directs readers to more substantive guidance already in existence.
Document

Guidance on sickness certification in response to the swine flu pandemic (1st October 2009)
This document clarifies that the existing arrangements for provision of medical certificates or self-certification have not changed in light of the swine flu pandemic.

The situation is being kept under close review to enable action to be taken quickly, should it be necessary.
Guidance

Pandemic influenza: recommendations on the use of antiviral medicines for pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding and children under the age of one year (29th September 2009)
This document is a supplement to the Department of Health guidance: Pandemic influenza: guidance on preparing maternity services. It reinforces and clarifies the advice in the main guidance, and provides advice for the use of antiviral medicines in women who are breastfeeding. It also gives details of the safety and efficacy of these medicines.
Guidance

The H1N1 swine flu vaccination programme 2009-2010 (1st October 2009)
Letter providing information to assist immunisation leads, pandemic influenza leads and flu co-ordinators in further planning for the swine flu (influenza A (H1N1v) 2009) vaccination programme.
Information

IMMUNISATION

Dosage of oseltamivir in children under one year of age with swine flu (24th September 2009)
This letter from Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, highlights the change in the dosage regime for oseltamivir in children aged 6 months and over and up to 1 year of age during an influenza pandemic outbreak and the steps that need to be taken to ensure a safe transition to the new dosage.
Letter

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Authorisation of antiviral medicines - guidance on the use of FP10SS forms and Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers during the H1N1 (swine flu) pandemic in England (24th September 2009)
This is a new guidance document on the use of Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers.

This guidance has been issued for two reasons:

• authorisation of antiviral medicines using Antiviral Authorisation Vouchers as well as specifically endorsed FP10SS forms has now been enabled.
• a change in the recommended dose for oseltamivir for children 6 months and over and up to 1 year of age from 2mg/kg to 3mg/kg has been announced by the European Commission.

Guidance

Managing influenza-like illness (ILI) in nursing and residential homes during the current influenza pandemic (WHO Phase 6)
This guidance aims to provide advice on the generic management of cases or outbreaks of flu-like illness in nursing and residential homes, and provides specific guidance appropriate to pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza.
Guidance

PANDEMIC INFLUENZA

Critical care strategy: managing the H1N1 flu pandemic (September 2009)
This strategy sets out the Department of Healths approach to managing critical care during the swine flu pandemic by increasing the number of available critical care beds and preventing people becoming seriously ill as a result of swine flu.
Guidance
Covering letter
Letter from Chief Medical Officer

Pandemic influenza paediatric clinical pathways: information for health care professionals working in primary care and the community (10th September 2009)
This guidance should be used with the adult modules and provides additional paediatric information suitable for clinical staff in locations where acute medical care may be provided to children. This information should be used in combination with local training by paediatric specialist staff as available to you.
Guidance

Pandemic influenza: paediatric clinical pathways: information for health care professionals working in hospitals (7th September 2009)
This guidance provides paediatric information for hospital-based clinical staff who may need to care for children acutely unwell with influenza during a pandemic.
Guidance

Measures in school settings (11th September 2009)
WHO is today issuing advice on measures that can be undertaken in schools to reduce the impact of the H1N1 influenza pandemic. Recommendations draw on recent experiences in several countries as well as studies of the health, economic, and social consequences of school closures. These studies were undertaken by members of a WHO informal network for mathematical modelling of the pandemic.
Information

SOCIAL CARE

Exercise Prometheus (10th September 2009)
Exercise Prometheus is a Department of Health funded exercise for the social care sector to assess and develop its resilience planning in readiness for a second wave of the pandemic swine flu. Designed as an 'off the shelf' package primarily for use by local authorities in partnership with their local providers of social care, the exercise has been developed by the Health Protection Agency from experience gained in previous pandemic influenza exercises.
Guidance

AMBULANCE TRUSTS

Pandemic influenza toolkit for NHS ambulance services in England (1st September 2009)
This toolkit is part of the Department of Health’s (DH) programme for improving and enhancing the preparedness within NHS ambulance services for managing pandemic influenza. The aim is to support ambulance trusts in the delivery of an operational response. The body of the toolkit provides a summary statement of individual topics and signposts to further information, websites and material published by DH.
Toolkit